Improved corpse-preserver



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AALFRE D'` G. REED, OF PHIL DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. Letters Patent No. 88,510, dated March 30, 1869.

IMPROVED CORPSE-PRESERVER.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

Taal! whom 'it/may concern Beit known that I, ALFRED G. REED, ofPhilaflelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a Corpse-Preserving Gase; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention consists of an air-tight case, of non-v coin'lucting material, withinwhich are arranged vessels for containing freezing-mixture,and partitionstfor causing a circulation of air withinV the case, after the corpse is enclosed in -the same, lall as fully described hereafter, so that the interior of the case may be so chilled and so free. from moisture, that the corpse will be preserved from decay.

In order -to enable others to make my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference bei ng had to the accompanying draw'- ing, which forms a part of this specification, and in whichy I Figure. 1 is a planyiew of my improved corpsepreserving case, with the cover removed, and Y l Figure 2, a transverse section of the same, o n the line 1 2, fig. 1.

v A is the case, the precise shape of which is immaterial, providing it is of proper form to receive the corpse, the twoinetal vessels B and B, and partitions Dand D', described hereafter, The case is made of wood, and must be lined throughout with felt, or other equivalent non-conducting material, and this is maintained in place, and the case. rendered air-tight, by an inner lining of thin metal.

Within the case, on each side of the same, is a vessel,'B, of thin metal, which may beef such a length, and so situated, as to extend from about -the knees to the breast of the corpse. l

Between the latter, however, and each vessel, extends a partition, D, which may be in contact with the corpse, but there must be a narrow space between each partition and the adjacent vessel.

There must, also, be open spaces between the lower edges ofthe partit-ions and the bottom of the case, and between the upper edges of the partitions, and the lid E ot' the case.

The vessels B and B extend, vertically, from the bottom of the case, to the upper edge of the same, each'vesscl being entirely closed, with the exception of an openingl at the top of a hollow'projection, e, which passes through the cover, and which, on the outside of the same, is furnished with a suitable plu".

The lid E may be made of wood, and mustbe lined,

on the under side, with felt, or other equivalent nonconducting-material, covered with thin metal; and at the edge ofthe case ber, or other like substance, for it is essential that-the entire case should be so prepared as to. be air-tight.

. The lid E may be secured by thumb-nuts, 7i., adapted to bolts, connected, at suitable intervals, toV the case, and passing through the said lid. p

The corpse, which I prefer to treat, in the lir'st instance, in the manner describediu aseparate application, which I am about to make placed in the case, between the partitions D and D', -and the lid is secured in its proper position, when ice and salt, o r other freeziiig-composition, is deposited in the vessels through the openings in the projections e, the saidol'lenings being plugs.

The freezing-mixture so chills the cases B and B that all moisture emanating from the corpse irs'soon frozen, and adheres to the outer surface ofthe metal, at the same time. p

`After the body is rst enclosed, a circulation ofthe air iu the case is maintained through the spaces between the chilled vessels and the partitions, until the interior of the vessel is ata temperature below the freezing-point. This temperature, together with the absence of moisture in the case, etfectually preserves the corpse from decomposition.

I have found that the partitions D and D', arranged in the manner. described, i-nduce this circulation, which soon results in the chilling of the entirey corpse. l Whatever water may chip from the outer .surface of the vessels, may pass into a groove, or receptacle at the bottom of .the case7 and may be withdrawn from the latter by any suitable waste-cock, which will prevent the access of' air to the case.

Without confining myself to any particular form ot' case, or to any specific length of the vessels B and B', which, if desired, may be as long as .the case itself,

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Let` ters Patent- K The arrangement describedfof the partitions D D and vessels B B in respect to` a case and cover of nou-conducting material, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence'of two subscribing witnesses.

' A. G. REED. Witnesses:

J onN WHITE, HARRY SMITH.

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